Camera with eye position detector

ABSTRACT

A method of processing an image taken with a digital camera including an eye position sensing means said method comprising the step of utilizing the eye position information within the sensed image to process the image in a spatially varying sense, depending upon said location information. The utilizing step can comprises utilizing the eye position information to locate an area of interest within said sensed image. The processing can include the placement of speech bubbles within said image.

Continuation Application of U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,746 filed on Jul. 10,1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,419

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an image processing method andapparatus and, in particular, discloses a process for Utilising EyeDetection Methods in a Digital Image Camera.

The present invention relates to the field of digital image processingand in particular, the field of processing of images taken via a digitalcamera.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, digital cameras have become increasingly popular. Thesecameras normally operate by means of imaging a desired image utilising acharge coupled device (CCD) array and storing the imaged scene on anelectronic storage medium for later down loading onto a computer systemfor subsequent manipulation and printing out. Normally, when utilising acomputer system to print out an image, sophisticated software mayavailable to manipulate the image in accordance with requirements.

Unfortunately such systems require significant post processing of acaptured image and normally present the image in an orientation to whichis was taken, relying on the post processing process to perform anynecessary or required modifications of the captured image. Further, muchof the environmental information available when the picture was taken islost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method andapparatus for the utilisation of camera eye detection techniques in adigital camera.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided amethod of processing an image taken with a digital camera including aneye position sensing means said method comprising the step of utilizingthe eye position information within the sensed image to process theimage in a spatially varying sense, depending upon said locationinformation.

The utilizing step can comprise utilizing the eye position informationto locate an area of interest within said sensed image. The processingcan includes the placement of speech bubbles within said image orapplying a region specific warp to said image. Alternatively theprocessing can include applying a brush stroke filter to the imagehaving greater detail in the area of said eye position information.Ideally the camera is able to substantially immediately print out theresults of the processing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of thepresent invention, preferred forms of the invention will now bedescribed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the method of operation of the preferred embodiment;and

FIG. 2 illustrates one form of image processing in accordance with thepreferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiment is preferable implemented through suitableprogramming of a hand held camera device such as that described in theconcurrently filed application entitled “A Digital Image Printing Camerawith Image Processing Capability” filed concurrently herewith by thepresent applicant the content of which is hereby specificallyincorporated by cross reference and the details of which, and otherrelated applications are set out in the tables below.

The aforementioned patent specification discloses a camera system,hereinafter known as an “Artcam” type camera, wherein sensed images canbe directly printed out by an Artcam portable camera unit. Further, theaforementioned specification discloses means and methods for performingvarious manipulations on images captured by the camera sensing deviceleading to the production of various effects in any output image. Themanipulations are disclosed to be highly flexible in nature and can beimplemented through the insertion into the Artcam of cards havingencoded thereon various instructions for the manipulation of images, thecards hereinafter being known as Artcards. The Artcam further hassignificant onboard processing power by an Artcam Central Processor unit(ACP) which is interconnected to a memory device for the storage ofimportant data and images.

In the preferred embodiment, the Artcam device is modified so as toinclude an eye position sensor which senses a current eye position. Thesensed eye position information is utilised to process the digital imagetaken by the camera so as to produce modifications, transformations etc.in accordance with the sensed eye position.

The construction of eye position sensors is known to those skilled inthe art and is utilised within a number of manufacture's cameras. Inparticular, within those of Canon Inc. Eye position sensors may rely onthe projection of an infra red beam from the viewfinder into theviewer's eye and a reflection detected and utilized to determine alikely eye position.

In the preferred embodiment, it is assumed that the eye position sensoris interconnected to the ACP unit of the Artcam device as discussed inthe aforementioned Australian Provisional Patent Application which isconverted to a digital form and stored in the Artcam memory store forlater use.

Turning now to FIG. 1, the eye position information 10 and the image 11are stored in the memory of the Artcam and are then processed 12 by theACP to output a processed image 13 for printing out as a photo via aprint head. The form of image processing 12 can be highly variableprovided it is dependant on the eye position information 10. Forexample, in a first form of image processing, a face detection algorithmis applied to the image 11 so as to detect the position of faces withinan image and to apply various graphical objects, for example, speechbubbles in a particular offset relationship to the face. An example ofsuch process is illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein, a first image 15 is shownof three persons. After application of the face detection algorithm,three faces 16, 17 and 18 are detected. The eye position information isthen utilised to select that face which is closest to an estimated eyeview within the frame. In a first example, the speech bubble is placerelative to the head 16. In a second example 20, the speech bubble isplaced relative to the head 17 and in a third example 21, the speechbubble is placed relative to the head 18. Hence, an art card can beprovided containing an encoded form of speech bubble applicationalgorithm and the image processed so as to place the speech bubble textabove a pre-determined face within the image.

It will be readily apparent that the eye position information could beutilised to process the image 11 in a multitude of different ways. Thiscan include applying regions specific morphs to faces and objects,applying focusing effects in a regional or specific manner. Further, theimage processing involved can include applying artistic renderings of animage and this can include applying an artistic paint brushingtechnique. The artistic brushing methods can be applied in a regionspecific manner in accordance with the eye position information 10. Thefinal processed image 13 can be printed out as required. Further imagescan be then taken, each time detecting and utilising a different eyeposition to produce a different output image.

It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerousvariations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention asshown in the specific embodiment without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiment is,therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and notrestrictive.

The present invention is futher best utilized in the Artcam device, thedetails of which are set out in the following paragraphs although it isnot restricted thereto.

Ink Jet Technologies

The embodiments of the invention use an ink jet printer type device. Ofcourse many different devices could be used. However presently popularink jet printing technologies are unlikely to be suitable.

The most significant problem with thermal inkjet is power consumption.This is approximately 100 times that required for high speed, and stemsfrom the energy-inefficient means of drop ejection. This involves therapid boiling of water to produce a vapor bubble which expels the ink.Water has a very high heat capacity, and must be superheated in thermalinkjet applications. This leads to an efficiency of around 0.02%, fromelectricity input to drop momentum (and increased surface area) out.

The most significant problem with piezoelectric inkjet is size and cost.Piezoelectric crystals have a very small deflection at reasonable drivevoltages, and therefore require a large area for each nozzle. Also, eachpiezoelectric actuator must be connected to its drive circuit on aseparate substrate. This is not a significant problem at the currentlimit of around 300 nozzles per print head, but is a major impediment tothe fabrication of pagewide print heads with 19,200 nozzles.

Ideally, the inkjet technologies used meet the stringent requirements ofin-camera digital color printing and other high quality, high speed, lowcost printing applications. To meet the requirements of digitalphotography, new inkjet technologies have been created. The targetfeatures include:

low power (less than 10 Watts)

high resolution capability (1,600 dpi or more)

photographic quality output

low manufacturing cost

small size (pagewidth times minimum cross section)

high speed (<2 seconds per page).

All of these features can be met or exceeded by the inkjet systemsdescribed below with differing levels of difficulty. 45 different inkjettechnologies have been developed by the Assignee to give a wide range ofchoices for high volume manufacture. These technologies form part ofseparate applications assigned to the present Assignee as set out in thetable below.

The inkjet designs shown here are suitable for a wide range of digitalprinting systems, from battery powered one-time use digital cameras,through to desktop and network printers, and through to commercialprinting systems

For ease of manufacture using standard process equipment, the print headis designed to be a monolithic 0.5 micron CMOS chip with MEMS postprocessing. For color photographic applications, the print head is 100mm long, with a width which depends upon the inkjet type. The smallestprint head designed is IJ38, which is 0.35 mm wide, giving a chip areaof 35 square mm. The print heads each contain 19,200 nozzles plus dataand control circuitry.

Ink is supplied to the back of the print head by injection moldedplastic ink channels. The molding requires 50 micron features, which canbe created using a lithographically micromachined insert in a standardinjection molding tool. Ink flows through holes etched through the waferto the nozzle chambers fabricated on the front surface of the wafer. Theprint head is connected to the camera circuitry by tape automatedbonding.

CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATIONS

The following table is a guide to cross-referenced patent applicationsfiled concurrently herewith and discussed hereinafter with the referencebeing utilized in subsequent tables when referring to a particular case:

Docket Refer- No. ence Title IJ01US IJ01 Radiant Plunger Ink Jet PrinterIJ02US IJ02 Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer IJ03US IJ03 PlanarThermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet IJ04US IJ04 Stacked ElectrostaticInk Jet Printer IJ05US IJ05 Reverse Spring Lever Ink Jet Printer IJ06USIJ06 Paddle Type Ink Jet Printer IJ07US IJ07 Permanent MagnetElectromagnetic Ink Jet Printer IJ08US IJ08 Planar Swing GrillElectromagnetic Ink Jet Printer IJ09US IJ09 Pump Action Refill Ink JetPrinter IJ10US IJ10 Pulsed Magnetic Field Ink Jet Printer IJ11US IJ11Two Plate Reverse Firing Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer IJ12US IJ12Linear Stepper Actuator Ink Jet Printer IJ13US IJ13 Gear Driven ShutterInk Jet Printer IJ14US IJ14 Tapered Magnetic Pole Electromagnetic InkJet Printer IJ15US IJ15 Linear Spring Electromagnetic Grill Ink JetPrinter IJ16US IJ16 Lorenz Diaphragm Electromagnetic Ink Jet PrinterIJ17US IJ17 PTFE Surface Shooting Shuttered Oscillating Pressure Ink JetPrinter IJ18US IJ18 Buckle Grip Oscillating Pressure Ink Jet PrinterIJ19US IJ19 Shutter Based Ink Jet Printer IJ20US IJ20 Curling CalyxThermoelastic Ink Jet Printer IJ21US IJ21 Thermal Actuated Ink JetPrinter IJ22US IJ22 Iris Motion Ink Jet Printer IJ23US IJ23 DirectFiring Thermal Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer IJ24US IJ24 Conductive PTFEBen Activator Vented Ink Jet Printer IJ25US IJ25 Magnetostrictive InkJet Printer IJ26US IJ26 Shape Memory Alloy Ink Jet Printer IJ27US IJ27Buckle Plate Ink Jet Printer IJ28US IJ28 Thermal Elastic Rotary ImpellerInk Jet Printer IJ29US IJ29 Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet PrinterIJ30US IJ30 Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Using PTFE and Corrugated CopperInk Jet Printer IJ31US IJ31 Bend Actuator Direct Ink Supply Ink JetPrinter IJ32US IJ32 A High Young's Modulus Thermoelastic Ink Jet PrinterIJ33US IJ33 Thermally actuated slotted chamber wall ink jet printerIJ34US IJ34 Ink Jet Printer having a thermal actuator comprising anexternal coiled spring IJ35US IJ35 Trough Container Ink Jet PrinterIJ36US IJ36 Dual Chamber Single Vertical Actuator Ink Jet IJ37US IJ37Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Fulcrum Actuator Ink Jet IJ38US IJ38 DualNozzle Single Horizontal Actuator Ink Jet IJ39US IJ39 A single bendactuator cupped paddle ink jet printing device IJ40US IJ40 A thermallyactuated ink jet printer having a series of thermal actuator unitsIJ41US IJ41 A thermally actuated ink jet printer including a taperedheater element IJ42US IJ42 Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink JetIJ43US IJ43 Inverted Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet IJ44USIJ44 Surface bend actuator vented ink supply ink jet printer IJ45US IJ45Coil Acutuated Magnetic Plate Ink Jet PrinterTables of Drop-on-Demand Inkjets

Eleven important characteristics of the fundamental operation ofindividual inkjet nozzles have been identified. These characteristicsare largely orthogonal, and so can be elucidated as an elevendimensional matrix. Most of the eleven axes of this matrix includeentries developed by the present assignee.

The following tables form the axes of an eleven dimensional table ofinkjet types.

Actuator mechanism (18 types)

Basic operation mode (7 types)

Auxiliary mechanism (8 types)

Actuator amplification or modification method (17 types)

Actuator motion (19 types)

Nozzle refill method (4 types)

Method of restricting back-flow through inlet (10 types)

Nozzle clearing method (9 types)

Nozzle plate construction (9 types)

Drop ejection direction (5 types)

Ink type (7 types)

The complete eleven dimensional table represented by these axes contains36.9 billion possible configurations of inkjet nozzle. While not all ofthe possible combinations result in a viable inkjet technology, manymillion configurations are viable. It is clearly impractical toelucidate all of the possible configurations. Instead, certain inkjettypes have been investigated in detail. These are designated IJ01 toIJ45 above.

Other inkjet configurations can readily be derived from these 45examples by substituting alternative configurations along one or more ofthe 11 axes. Most of the IJ01 to IJ45 examples can be made into inkjetprint heads with characteristics superior to any currently availableinkjet technology.

Where there are prior art examples known to the inventor, one or more ofthese examples are listed in the examples column of the tables below.The IJ01 to IJ45 series are also listed in the examples column. In somecases, a printer may be listed more than once in a table, where itshares characteristics with more than one entry.

Suitable applications include: Home printers, Office network printers,Short run digital printers, Commercial print systems, Fabric printers,Pocket printers, Internet WWW printers, Video printers, Medical imaging,Wide format printers, Notebook PC printers, Fax machines, Industrialprinting systems, Photocopiers, Photographic minilabs etc.

The information associated with the aforementioned 11 dimensional matrixare set out in the following tables.

Actuator Mechanism (Applied Only to Selected Ink Drops)

Actuator Mechanism Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples ThermalAn electrothermal heater Large force generated High power CanonBubblejet bubble heats the ink to above Simple construction Ink carrierlimited to water 1979 Endo et al boiling point, transferring No movingparts Low efficiency GB patent significant heat to the Fast operationHigh temperatures required 2,007,162 aqueous ink. A bubble Small chiparea High mechanical stress Xerox heater-in- nucleates and quicklyrequired for actuator Unusual materials required pit 1990 Hawkins forms,expelling the ink. Large drive transistors et al USP The efficiency ofthe Cavitation causes actuator 4,899,181 process is low, with failureHewlett-Packard typically less than 0.05% Kogation reduces bubble TIJ1982 Vaught of the electrical energy formation et al USP beingtransformed into Large print heads are 4,490,728 kinetic energy of thedrop. difficult to fabricate Piezoelectric A piezoelectric crystal Lowpower consumption Very large area required for Kyser et al USP such aslead lanthanum Many ink types can be actuator 3,946,398 zirconate (PZT)is used Difficult to integrate with Zoltan USP electrically activated,and Fast operation electronics 3,683,212 either expands, shears, or Highefficiency High voltage drive 1973 Stemme bends to apply pressure totransistors required USP 3,747,120 the ink, ejecting drops. Fullpagewidth print heads Epson Stylus impractical due to actuator Tektronixsize IJ04 Requires electrical poling in high field strengths duringmanufacture Electrostrictive An electric field is used Low powerconsumption Low maximum strain (approx. Seiko Epson, to activate Manyink types can be 0.01%) Usui et all JP electrostriction in relaxor usedLarge area required for 253401/96 materials such as lead Low thermalexpansion actuator due to low strain IJ04 lanthanum zirconate Electricfield Response speed is marginal (~ titanate (PLZT) or lead strengthrequired 10 μs) magnesium niobate (PMN). (approx. 3.5 V/μm) High voltagedrive can be generated transistors required without difficulty Fullpagewidth print heads Does not require impractical due to actuatorelectrical poling size Ferroelectric An electric field is used Low powerconsumption Difficult to integrate with IJ04 to induce a phase Many inktypes can be electronics transition between the used Unusual materialssuch as antiferroelectric (AFE) and Fast operation (<1 μS) PLZSnT arerequired ferroelectric (FE) phase. Relatively high Actuators require alarge Perovskite materials such longitudinal strain area as tin modifiedlead High efficiency lanthanum zirconate Electric field titanate(PLZSnT) exhibit strength of around 3 V/μm large strains of up to 1% canbe readily associated with the AFE to provided FE phase transition.Electrostatic Conductive plates are Low power consumption Difficult tooperate IJ02, IJ04 plates separated by a compressible Many ink types canbe electrostatic devices in an or fluid dielectric used aqueousenvironment (usually air). Upon Fast operation The electrostaticactuator application of a voltage, will normally need to be the platesattract each separated from the ink other and displace ink, Very largearea required to causing drop ejection. The achieve high forcesconductive plates may be in High voltage drive a comb or honeycombtransistors may be required structure, or stacked to Full pagewidthprint heads increase the surface area are not competitive due to andtherefore the force. actuator size Electrostatic A strong electric fieldis Low current High voltage required 1989 Saito et pull on ink appliedto the ink, consumption May be damaged by sparks due al, USP whereuponelectrostatic Low temperature to air breakdown 4,799,068 attractionaccelerates the Required field strength 1989 Miura et ink towards theprint increases as the drop size al, USP medium. decreases 4,810,954High voltage drive Tone-jet transistors required Electrostatic fieldattracts dust Permanent An electromagnet directly Low power consumptionComplex fabrication IJ07, IJ10 magnet attracts a permanent Many inktypes can be Permanent magnetic material electromagnetic magnet,displacing ink and used such as Neodymium Iron Boron causing dropejection. Rare Fast operation (NdFeB) required. earth magnets with afield High efficiency High local currents required strength around 1Tesla can Easy extension from Copper metalization should be be used.Examples are: single nozzles to used for long Samarium Cobalt (SaCo) andpagewidth print heads electromigration lifetime and magnetic materialsin the low resistivity neodymium iron boron family Pigmented inks areusually (NdFeB, NdDyFeBNb, NdDyFeB, infeasible etc) Operatingtemperature limited to the Curie temperature (around 540 K) Softmagnetic A solenoid induced a Low power consumption Complex fabricationIJ01, IJ05, core electromagnetic magnetic field in a soft Many ink typescan be Materials not usually present IJ08, TJ10 magnetic core or yokeused in a CMOS fab such as NiFe, IJ12, IJ14, fabricated from a ferrousFast operation CoNiFe, or CoFe are required IJ15, IJ17 material such asHigh efficiency High local currents required electroplated iron alloysEasy extension from Copper metalization should be such as CoNiFe [1],CoFe, single nozzles to used for long or NiFe alloys. Typically,pagewidth print heads electromigration lifetime and the soft magneticmaterial low resistivity is in two parts, which are Electroplating isrequired normally held apart by a High saturation flux density spring.When the solenoid is required (2.0–2.1 T is is actuated, the two partsachievable with CoNiFe [1]) attract, displacing the ink. Magnetic TheLorenz force acting on Low power consumption Force acts as a twistingIJ06, IJ11, Lorenz force a current carrying wire in Many ink types canbe motion IJ13, IJ16 a magnetic field is used Typically, only a quarterof utilized. Fast operation the solenoid length provides This allows themagnetic High efficiency force in a useful direction field to besupplied Easy extension from High local currents required externally tothe print single nozzles to Copper metalization should be head, forexample with rare pagewidth print heads used for long earth permanentmagnets. electromigration lifetime and Only the current carrying lowresistivity wire need be fabricated on Pigmented inks are usually theprint-head, simplifying infeasible materials requirements.Magnetostriction The actuator uses the giant Many ink types can be Forceacts as a twisting Fischenbeck, USP magnetostrictive effect of usedmotion 4,032,929 materials such as Terfenol-D Fast operation Unusualmaterials such as IJ25 (an alloy of terbium, Easy extension fromTerfenol-D are required dysprosium and iron single nozzles to High localcurrents required developed at the Naval pagewidth print heads Coppermetalization should be Ordnance Laboratory, hence High force is used forlong Ter-Fe-NOL). For best available electromigration lifetime andefficiency, the actuator low resistivity should be pre-stressed toPre-stressing may be required approx. 8 MPa. Surface Ink under positivepressure Low power consumption Requires supplementary force Silverbrook,EP tension is held in a nozzle by Simple construction to effect dropseparation 0771 658 A2 and reduction surface tension. The No unusualmaterials Requires special ink related patent surface tension of the inkrequired in surfactants applications is reduced below the bubblefabrication Speed may be limited by threshold, causing the ink Highefficiency surfactant properties to egress from the nozzle. Easyextension from single nozzles to pagewidth print heads Viscosity The inkviscosity is Simple construction Requires supplementary forceSilverbrook, EP reduction locally reduced to select No unusual materialsto effect drop separation 0771 658 A2 and which drops are to be requiredin Requires special ink related patent ejected. A viscosity fabricationviscosity properties applications reduction can be achieved Easyextension from High speed is difficult to electrothermally with mostsingle nozzles to achieve inks, but special inks can pagewidth printheads Requires oscillating ink be engineered for a 100:1 pressureviscosity reduction. A high temperature difference (typically 80degrees) is required Acoustic An acoustic wave is Can operate without aComplex drive circuitry 1993 Hadimioglu generated and focussed uponnozzle plate Complex fabrication et al, EUP the drop ejection region.Low efficiency 550,192 Poor control of drop position 1993 Elrod et Poorcontrol of drop volume al, EUP 572,220 Thermoelastic An actuator whichrelies Low power consumption Efficient aqueous operation IJ03, IJ09,bend actuator upon differential thermal Many ink types can be requires athermal insulator IJ17, IJ18 expansion upon Joule used on the hot sideIJ19, IJ20, heating is used. Simple planar Corrosion prevention can beIJ21, IJ22 fabrication difficult IJ23, IJ24, Small chip area Pigmentedinks may be IJ27, IJ28 required for each infeasible, as pigment IJ29,IJ30, actuator particles may jam the bend IJ31, IJ32 Fast operationactuator IJ33, IJ34, High efficiency IJ35, IJ36 CMOS compatible IJ37,IJ38, voltages and currents IJ39, IJ40 Standard MEMS IJ41 processes canbe used Easy extension from single nozzles to pagewidth print heads HighCTE A material with a very high High force can be Requires specialmaterial IJ09, IJ17, thermoelastic coefficient of thermal generated(e.g. PTFE) IJ18, IJ20 actuator expansion (CTE) such as PTFE is acandidate Requires a PTFE deposition IJ21, IJ22, polytetrafluoroethylenefor low dielectric process, which is not yet IJ23, IJ24 (PTFE) is used.As high CTE constant insulation standard in ULSI fabs IJ27, IJ28,materials are usually non- in ULSI PTFE deposition cannot be IJ29, IJ30conductive, a heater Very low power followed with high IJ31, IJ42,fabricated from a consumption temperature (above 350° C.) IJ43, IJ44conductive material is Many ink types can be processing incorporated. A50 μm long used Pigmented inks may be PTFE bend actuator with Simpleplanar infeasible, as pigment polysilicon heater and 15 mW fabricationparticles may jam the bend power input can provide Small chip areaactuator 180 μN force and 10 μm required for each deflection. Actuatoractuator motions include: Fast operation 1) Bend High efficiency 2) PushCMOS compatible 3) Buckle voltages and currents 4) Rotate Easy extensionfrom single nozzles to pagewidth print heads Conductive A polymer with ahigh High force can be Requires special materials IJ24 polymercoefficient of thermal generated development (High CTE thermoelasticexpansion (such as PTFE) is Very low power conductive polymer) actuatordoped with conducting consumption Requires a PTFE deposition substancesto increase its Many ink types can be process, which is not yetconductivity to about 3 used standard in ULSI fabs orders of magnitudebelow Simple planar PTFE deposition cannot be that of copper. Thefabrication followed with high conducting polymer expands Small chiparea temperature (above 350° C.) when resistively heated. required foreach processing Examples of conducting actuator Evaporation and CVDdopants include: Fast operation deposition techniques cannot 1) Carbonnanotubes High efficiency be used 2) Metal fibers CMOS compatiblePigmented inks may be 3) Conductive polymers such voltages and currentsinfeasible, as pigment as doped polythiophene Easy extension fromparticles may jam the bend 4) Carbon granules single nozzles to actuatorpagewidth print heads Shape memory A shape memory alloy such High forceis Fatigue limits maximum number IJ26 alloy as TiNi (also known asavailable (stresses of cycles Nitinol —Nickel Titanium of hundreds ofMPa) Low strain (1%) is required alloy developed at the Large strain isto extend fatigue resistance Naval Ordnance Laboratory) available (morethan Cycle rate limited by heat is thermally switched 3%) removalbetween its weak High corrosion Requires unusual materials martensiticstate and its resistance (TiNi) high stiffness austenic Simpleconstruction The latent heat of state. The shape of the Easy extensionfrom transformation must be actuator in its martensitic single nozzlesto provided state is deformed relative pagewidth print heads Highcurrent operation to the austenic shape. The Low voltage operationRequires pre-stressing to shape change causes distort the martensiticstate ejection of a drop. Linear Linear magnetic actuators LinearMagnetic Requires unusual IJ12 Magnetic include the Linear actuators canbe semiconductor materials such Actuator Induction Actuator (LIA),constructed with high as soft magnetic alloys (e.g. Linear PermanentMagnet thrust, long travel, CoNiFe [1]) Synchronous Actuator and highefficiency Some varieties also require (LPMSA), Linear Reluctance usingplanar permanent magnetic materials Synchronous Actuator semiconductorsuch as Neodymium iron boron (LRSA), Linear Switched fabrication (NdFeB)Reluctance Actuator (LSRA), techniques Requires complex multi-phase andthe Linear Stepper Long actuator travel drive circuitry Actuator (LSA).is available High current operation Medium force is available Lowvoltage operationBasic Operation Mode

Operational mode Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples ActuatorThis is the simplest mode Simple operation Drop repetition rate isThermal inkjet directly of operation: the actuator No external fieldsusually limited to less than Piezoelectric pushes ink directly suppliesrequired 10 KHz. However, this is not inkjet sufficient kinetic energySatellite drops can fundamental to the method, IJ01, IJ02, to expel thedrop. The drop be avoided if drop but is related to the refill IJ03,IJ04 must have a sufficient velocity is less than method normally usedIJ05, IJ06, velocity to overcome the 4 m/s All of the drop kinetic IJ07,IJ09 surface tension. Can be efficient, energy must be provided by IJ11,IJ12, depending upon the the actuator IJ14, IJ16 actuator used Satellitedrops usually form IJ20, IJ22, if drop velocity is greater IJ23, IJ24than 4.5 m/s IJ25, IJ26, IJ27, IJ28 IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 IJ33, IJ34,IJ35, IJ36 IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40 IJ41, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44 Proximity Thedrops to be printed are Very simple print Requires close proximitySilverbrook, EP selected by some manner head fabrication can between theprint head and 0771 658 A2 and (e.g. thermally induced be used the printmedia or transfer related patent surface tension reduction The dropselection roller applications of pressurized ink). means does not needMay require two print heads Selected drops are to provide the energyprinting alternate rows of separated from the ink in required toseparate the image the nozzle by contact with the drop from theMonolithic color print heads the print medium or a nozzle are difficulttransfer roller. Electrostatic The drops to be printed are Very simpleprint Requires very high Silverbrook, EP pull on ink selected by somemanner head fabrication can electrostatic field 0771 658 A2 and (e.g.thermally induced be used Electrostatic field for small related patentsurface tension reduction The drop selection nozzle sizes is above airapplications of pressurized ink). means does not need breakdown Tone-JetSelected drops are to provide the energy Electrostatic field mayseparated from the ink in required to separate attract dust the nozzleby a strong the drop from the electric field. nozzle Magnetic pull Thedrops to be printed are Very simple print Requires magnetic inkSilverbrook, EP on ink selected by some manner head fabrication can Inkcolors other than black 0771 658 A2 and (e.g. thermally induced be usedare difficult related patent surface tension reduction The dropselection Requires very high magnetic applications of pressurized ink).means does not need fields Selected drops are to provide the energyseparated from the ink in required to separate the nozzle by a strongthe drop from the magnetic field acting on nozzle the magnetic ink.Shutter The actuator moves a High speed (>50 KHz) Moving parts arerequired IJ13, IJ17, IJ21 shutter to block ink flow operation can beRequires ink pressure to the nozzle. The ink achieved due to modulatorpressure is pulsed at a reduced refill time Friction and wear must bemultiple of the drop Drop timing can be considered ejection frequency.very accurate Stiction is possible The actuator energy can be very lowShuttered The actuator moves a Actuators with small Moving parts arerequired IJ08, IJ15, grill shutter to block ink flow travel can be usedRequires ink pressure IJ18, IJ19 through a grill to the Actuators withsmall modulator nozzle. The shutter force can be used Friction and wearmust be movement need only be equal High speed (>50 KHz) considered tothe width of the grill operation can be Stiction is possible holes.achieved Pulsed A pulsed magnetic field Extremely low energy Requires anexternal pulsed IJ10 magnetic pull attracts an ‘ink pusher’ at operationis possible magnetic field on ink pusher the drop ejection No heatdissipation Requires special materials frequency. An actuator problemsfor both the actuator and the controls a catch, which ink pusherprevents the ink pusher Complex construction from moving when a drop isnot to be ejected.Auxiliary Mechanism (Applied to All Nozzles)

Auxiliary Mechanism Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples NoneThe actuator directly fires Simplicity of Drop ejection energy must beMost inkjets, the ink drop, and there is construction supplied byindividual nozzle including no external field or other Simplicity ofactuator piezoelectric mechanism required. operation and thermal Smallphysical size bubble. IJ01–IJ07, IJ09, IJ11 IJ12, IJ14, IJ20, IJ22IJ23–IJ45 Oscillating The ink pressure Oscillating ink Requires externalink Silverbrook, EP ink pressure oscillates, providing much pressure canprovide pressure oscillator 0771 658 A2 and (including of the dropejection a refill pulse, Ink pressure phase and related patent acousticenergy. The actuator allowing higher amplitude must be carefullyapplications stimulation) selects which drops are to operating speedcontrolled IJ08, IJ13, be fired by selectively The actuators mayAcoustic reflections in the IJ15, IJ17 blocking or enabling operate withmuch ink chamber must be designed IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 nozzles. The inkpressure lower energy for oscillation may be achieved Acoustic lensescan by vibrating the print be used to focus the head, or preferably byan sound on the nozzles actuator in the ink supply. Media The print headis placed in Low power Precision assembly required Silverbrook, EPproximity close proximity to the High accuracy Paper fibers may cause0771 658 A2 and print medium. Selected Simple print head problemsrelated patent drops protrude from the construction Cannot print onrough applications print head further than substrates unselected drops,and contact the print medium. The drop soaks into the medium fast enoughto cause drop separation. Transfer Drops are printed to a High accuracyBulky Silverbrook, EP roller transfer roller instead of Wide range ofprint Expensive 0771 658 A2 and straight to the print substrates can beComplex construction related patent medium. A transfer roller usedapplications can also be used for Ink can be dried on Tektronix hotproximity drop separation. the transfer roller melt piezoelectric inkjetAny of the IJ series Electrostatic An electric field is used Low powerField strength required for Silverbrook, EP to accelerate selectedSimple print head separation of small drops is 0771 658 A2 and dropstowards the print construction near or above air breakdown relatedpatent medium. applications Tone-Jet Direct A magnetic field is used toLow power Requires magnetic ink Silverbrook, EP magnetic accelerateselected drops Simple print head Requires strong magnetic 0771 658 A2and field of magnetic ink towards the construction field related patentprint medium. applications Cross The print head is placed in Does notrequire Requires external magnet IJ06, IJ16 magnetic a constant magneticfield. magnetic materials to Current densities may be field The Lorenzforce in a be integrated in the high, resulting in current carrying wireis print head electromigration problems used to move the actuator.manufacturing process Pulsed A pulsed magnetic field is Very low powerComplex print head IJ10 magnetic used to cyclically attract operation ispossible construction field a paddle, which pushes on Small print headsize Magnetic materials required the ink. A small actuator in print headmoves a catch, which selectively prevents the paddle from moving.Actuator Amplification or Modification Method

Actuator amplification Description Advantages Disadvantages ExamplesNone No actuator mechanical Operational Many actuator mechanisms haveThermal Bubble amplification is used. The simplicity insufficienttravel, or Inkjet actuator directly drives insufficient force, to IJ01,IJ02, the drop ejection process. efficiently drive the drop IJ06, IJ07ejection process IJ16, IJ25, IJ26 Differential An actuator materialProvides greater High stresses are involved Piezoelectric expansionexpands more on one side travel in a reduced Care must be taken that theIJ03, IJ09, bend actuator than on the other. The print head areamaterials do not delaminate IJ17–IJ24 expansion may be thermal, The bendactuator Residual bend resulting from IJ27, IJ29–IJ39, piezoelectric,converts a high force high temperature or high IJ42, magnetostrictive,or other low travel actuator stress during formation IJ43, IJ44mechanism. mechanism to high travel, lower force mechanism. Transient Atrilayer bend actuator Very good temperature High stresses are involvedIJ40, IJ41 bend actuator where the two outside stability Care must betaken that the layers are identical. This Hiqh speed, as a new materialsdo not delaminate cancels bend due to ambient drop can be firedtemperature and residual before heat stress. The actuator onlydissipates responds to transient Cancels residual heating of one side orthe stress of formation other. Actuator A series of thin actuatorsIncreased travel Increased fabrication Some stack are stacked. This canbe Reduced drive voltage complexity piezoelectric appropriate whereactuators Increased possibility of ink jets require high electric fieldshort circuits due to IJ04 strength, such as pinholes electrostatic andpiezoelectric actuators. Multiple Multiple smaller actuators Increasesthe force Actuator forces may not add IJ12, IJ13, actuators are usedsimultaneously to available from an linearly, reducing efficiency IJ18,IJ20 move the ink. Each actuator actuator IJ22, IJ28, need provide onlya portion Multiple actuators IJ42, IJ43 of the force required. can bepositioned to control ink flow accurately Linear Spring A linear springis used to Matches low travel Requires print head area for IJ15transform a motion with actuator with higher the spring small travel andhigh force travel requirements into a longer travel, lower Non-contactmethod of force motion. motion transformation Reverse The actuator loadsa Better coupling to Fabrication complexity IJ05, IJ11 spring spring.When the actuator the ink High stress in the spring is turned off, thespring releases. This can reverse the force/distance curve of theactuator to make it compatible with the force/time requirements of thedrop ejection. Coiled A bend actuator is coiled Increases travelGenerally restricted to IJ17, IJ21, actuator to provide greater travelReduces chip area planar implementations due to IJ34, IJ35 in a reducedchip area. Planar extreme fabrication implementations are difficulty inother relatively easy to orientations. fabricate. Flexure bend A bendactuator has a small Simple means of Care must be taken not to IJ10,IJ19, IJ33 actuator region near the fixture increasing travel of exceedthe elastic limit in point, which flexes much a bend actuator theflexure area more readily than the Stress distribution is very remainderof the actuator. uneven The actuator flexing is Difficult to accuratelymodel effectively converted from with finite element analysis an evencoiling to an angular bend, resulting in greater travel of the actuatortip. Gears Gears can be used to Low force, low travel Moving parts arerequired IJ13 increase travel at the actuators can be used Severalactuator cycles are expense of duration. Can be fabricated requiredCircular gears, rack and using standard More complex drive pinion,ratchets, and other surface MEMS electronics gearing methods can beprocesses Complex construction used. Friction, friction, and wear arepossible Catch The actuator controls a Very low actuator Complexconstruction IJ10 small catch. The catch energy Requires external forceeither enables or disables Very small actuator Unsuitable for pigmentedinks movement of an ink pusher size that is controlled in a bulk manner.Buckle plate A buckle plate can be used Very fast movement Must staywithin elastic S. Hirata et al, to change a slow actuator achievablelimits of the materials for “An Ink-jet Head into a fast motion. It canlong device life ...”, Proc. IEEE also convert a high force, Highstresses involved MEMS, Feb. 1996, low travel actuator into a Generallyhigh power pp 418–423. high travel, medium force requirement IJ18, IJ27motion. Tapered A tapered magnetic pole can Linearizes the Complexconstruction IJ14 magnetic pole increase travel at the magnetic expenseof force. force/distance curve Lever A lever and fulcrum is used Matcheslow travel High stress around the IJ32, IJ36, IJ37 to transform a motionwith actuator with higher fulcrum small travel and high force travelrequirements into a motion with longer Fulcrum area has no travel andlower force. The linear movement, and lever can also reverse the can beused for a direction of travel. fluid seal Rotary The actuator isconnected High mechanical Complex construction IJ28 impeller to a rotaryimpeller. A advantage Unsuitable for pigmented inks small angulardeflection of The ratio of force to the actuator results in a travel ofthe rotation of the impeller actuator can be vanes, which push the inkmatched to the nozzle against stationary vanes requirements by and outof the nozzle. varying the number of impeller vanes Acoustic lens Arefractive or diffractive No moving parts Large area required 1993Hadimioglu (e.g. zone plate) acoustic Only relevant for acoustic et al,EUP lens is used to concentrate ink jets 550, 192 sound waves. 1993Elrod et al, EUP 572,220 Sharp A sharp point is used to Simpleconstruction Difficult to fabricate using Tone-jet conductiveconcentrate an standard VLSI processes for a point electrostatic field.surface ejecting ink-jet Only relevant for electrostatic ink jetsActuator Motion

Actuator motion Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples Volume Thevolume of the actuator Simple construction High energy is typicallyHewlett-Packard expansion changes, pushing the ink in in the case ofrequired to achieve volume Thermal Inkjet all directions. thermal inkjet expansion. This leads to Canon Bubblejet thermal stress, cavitation,and kogation in thermal ink jet implementations Linear, The actuatormoves in a Efficient coupling to High fabrication complexity IJ01, IJ02,normal to direction normal to the ink drops ejected may be required toachieve IJ04, IJ07 chip surface print head surface. The normal to thesurface perpendicular motion IJ11, IJ14 nozzle is typically in the lineof movement. Linear, The actuator moves parallel Suitable for planarFabrication complexity IJ12, IJ13, parallel to to the print headsurface. fabrication Friction IJ15, IJ33, chip surface Drop ejection maystill be Stiction IJ34, IJ35, IJ36 normal to the surface. Membrane pushAn actuator with a high The effective area of Fabrication complexity1982 Howkins USP force but small area is the actuator becomes Actuatorsize 4,459,601 used to push a stiff the membrane area Difficulty ofintegration in membrane that is in contact a VLSI process with the ink.Rotary The actuator causes the Rotary levers may be Device complexityIJ05, IJ08, rotation of some element, used to increase May have frictionat a pivot IJ13, IJ28 such a grill or impeller travel point Small chiparea requirements Bend The actuator bends when A very small changeRequires the actuator to be 1970 Kyser et al energized. This may be duein dimensions can be made from at least two USP 3,946,398 todifferential thermal converted to a large distinct layers, or to have a1973 Stemme USP expansion, piezoelectric motion. thermal differenceacross the 3,747,120 expansion, actuator IJ03, IJ09, magnetostriction,or other IJ10, IJ19 form of relative IJ23, IJ24, dimensional change.IJ25, IJ29 IJ30, IJ31, IJ33, IJ34 IJ35 Swivel The actuator swivelsaround Allows operation Inefficient coupling to the IJ06 a centralpivot. This where the net linear ink motion motion is suitable whereforce on the paddle there are opposite forces is zero applied toopposite sides Small chip area of the paddle, e.g. Lorenz requirementsforce. Straighten The actuator is normally Can be used with Requirescareful balance of IJ26, IJ32 bent, and straightens when shape memoryalloys stresses to ensure that the energized. where the austenicquiescent bend is accurate phase is planar Double bend The actuatorbends in one One actuator can be Difficult to make the drops IJ36, IJ37,IJ38 direction when one element used to power two ejected by both bendis energized, and bends the nozzles. directions identical. other waywhen another Reduced chip size. A small efficiency loss element isenergized. Not sensitive to compared to equivalent single ambienttemperature bend actuators. Shear Energizing the actuator Can increasethe Not readily applicable to 1985 Fishbeck causes a shear motion ineffective travel of other actuator mechanisms USP 4,584,590 the actuatormaterial. piezoelectric actuators Radial The actuator squeezes anRelatively easy to High force required 1970 Zoltan USP constriction inkreservoir, forcing ink fabricate single Inefficient 3,683,212 from aconstricted nozzle. nozzles from glass Difficult to integrate withtubing as macroscopic VLSI processes structures Coil/uncoil A coiledactuator uncoils Easy to fabricate as Difficult to fabricate for IJ17,IJ21, or coils more tightly. The a planar VLSI process non-planardevices IJ34, IJ35 motion of the free end of Small area required, Poorout-of-plane stiffness the actuator ejects the therefore low cost ink.Bow The actuator bows (or Can increase the Maximum travel is constrainedIJ16, IJ18, IJ27 buckles) in the middle when speed of travel High forcerequired energized. Mechanically rigid Push-Pull Two actuators control aThe structure is Not readily suitable for IJ18 shutter. One actuatorpulls pinned at both ends, inkjets which directly push the shutter, andthe other so has a high out-of- the ink pushes it. plane rigidity Curlinwards A set of actuators curl Good fluid flow to Design complexityIJ20, IJ42 inwards to reduce the the region behind the volume of inkthat they actuator increases enclose. efficiency Curl outwards A set ofactuators curl Relatively simple Relatively large chip area IJ43outwards, pressurizing ink construction in a chamber surrounding theactuators, and expelling ink from a nozzle in the chamber. Iris Multiplevanes enclose a High efficiency High fabrication complexity IJ22 volumeof ink. These Small chip area Not suitable for pigmented simultaneouslyrotate, inks reducing the volume between the vanes. Acoustic Theactuator vibrates at a The actuator can be Large area required for 1993Hadimioglu vibration high frequency. physically distant efficientoperation at useful et al, EUP from the ink frequencies 550,192 Acousticcoupling and 1993 Elrod et crosstalk al, EUP 572,220 Complex drivecircuitry Poor control of drop volume and position None In various inkjet designs No moving parts Various other tradeoffs are Silverbrook, EPthe actuator does not move. required to eliminate moving 0771 658 A2 andparts related patent applications Tone-jetNozzle Refill Method

Nozzle refill method Description Advantages Disadvantages ExamplesSurface After the actuator is Fabrication Low speed Thermal inkjettension energized, it typically simplicity Surface tension forcePiezoelectric returns rapidly to its Operational relatively smallcompared to inkjet normal position. This rapid simplicity actuator forceIJ01–IJ07, IJ10–IJ14 return sucks in air through Long refill timeusually IJ16, IJ20, the nozzle opening. The ink dominates the totalIJ22–IJ45 surface tension at the repetition rate nozzle then exerts asmall force restoring the meniscus to a minimum area. Shuttered Ink tothe nozzle chamber High speed Requires common ink pressure IJ08, IJ13,oscillating is provided at a pressure Low actuator energy, oscillatorIJ15, IJ17 ink pressure that oscillates at twice as the actuator needMay not be suitable for IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 the drop ejection only open orclose pigmented inks frequency. When a drop is the shutter, instead tobe ejected, the shutter of ejecting the ink is opened for 3 half dropcycles: drop ejection, actuator return, and refill. Refill After themain actuator has High speed, as the Requires two independent IJ09actuator ejected a drop a second nozzle is actively actuators per nozzle(refill) actuator is refilled energized. The refill actuator pushes inkinto the nozzle chamber. The refill actuator returns slowly, to preventits return from emptying the chamber again. Positive ink The ink is helda slight High refill rate, Surface spill must be Silverbrook, EPpressure positive pressure. After therefore a high drop prevented 0771658 A2 and the ink drop is ejected, repetition rate is Highlyhydrophobic print head related patent the nozzle chamber fills possiblesurfaces are required applications quickly as surface tensionAlternative for: and ink pressure both IJ01–IJ07, IJ10–IJ14 operate torefill the IJ16, IJ20, nozzle. IJ22–IJ45Method of Restricting Back-Flow Through Inlet

Inlet back- flow restriction method Description Advantages DisadvantagesExamples Long inlet The ink inlet channel to Design simplicity Restrictsrefill rate Thermal inkjet channel the nozzle chamber is madeOperational May result in a relatively Piezoelectric long and relativelynarrow, simplicity large chip area inkjet relying on viscous drag toReduces crosstalk Only partially effective IJ42, IJ43 reduce inletback-flow. Positive ink The ink is under a positive Drop selection andRequires a method (such as a Silverbrook, EP pressure pressure, so thatin the separation forces can nozzle rim or effective 0771 658 A2 andquiescent state some of the be reduced hydrophobizing, or both) torelated patent ink drop already protrudes Fast refill time preventflooding of the applications from the nozzle. ejection surface of theprint Possible This reduces the pressure head. operation of the in thenozzle chamber which following: is required to eject a IJ01–IJ07,IJ09–IJ12 certain volume of ink. The IJ14, IJ16, reduction in chamberIJ20, IJ22, pressure results in a IJ23–IJ34, IJ36–IJ41 reduction in inkpushed out IJ44 through the inlet. Baffle One or more baffles are Therefill rate is Design complexity HP Thermal Ink placed in the inlet inknot as restricted as May increase fabrication Jet flow. When theactuator is the long inlet complexity (e.g. Tektronix Tektronixenergized, the rapid ink method. hot melt Piezoelectric printpiezoelectric movement creates eddies Reduces crosstalk heads). ink jetwhich restrict the flow through the inlet. The slower refill process isunrestricted, and does not result in eddies. Flexible flap In thismethod recently Significantly reduces Not applicable to most inkjetCanon restricts disclosed by Canon, the back-flow for edge-configurations inlet expanding actuator (bubble) shooter thermal inkIncreased fabrication pushes on a flexible flap jet devices complexitythat restricts the inlet. Inelastic deformation of polymer flap resultsin creep over extended use Inlet filter A filter is located betweenAdditional advantage Restricts refill rate IJ04, IJ12, the ink inlet andthe of ink filtration May result in complex IJ24, IJ27 nozzle chamber.The filter Ink filter may be construction IJ29, IJ30 has a multitude ofsmall fabricated with no holes or slots, restricting additional processink flow. The filter also steps removes particles which may block thenozzle. Small inlet The ink inlet channel to Design simplicity Restrictsrefill rate IJ02, IJ37, IJ44 compared to the nozzle chamber has a Mayresult in a relatively nozzle substantially smaller cross large chiparea section than that of the Only partially effective nozzle, resultingin easier ink egress out of the nozzle than out of the inlet. Inletshutter A secondary actuator Increases speed of Requires separate refillIJ09 controls the position of a the ink-jet print actuator and drivecircuit shutter, closing off the head operation ink inlet when the mainactuator is energized. The inlet is The method avoids the Back-flowproblem is Requires careful design to IJ01, IJ03, located problem ofinlet back-flow eliminated minimize the negative IJ05, IJ06 behind theby arranging the ink- pressure behind the paddle IJ07, IJ10, ink-pushingpushing surface of the IJ11, IJ14 surface actuator between the inletIJ16, IJ22, and the nozzle. IJ23, IJ25 IJ28, IJ31, IJ32, IJ33 IJ34,IJ35, IJ36, IJ39 IJ40, IJ41 Part of the The actuator and a wall ofSignificant Small increase in fabrication IJ07, IJ20, actuator the inkchamber are reductions in back- complexity IJ26, IJ38 moves to shutarranged so that the motion flow can be achieved off the inlet of theactuator closes off Compact designs the inlet. possible Nozzle In someconfigurations of Ink back-flow problem None related to ink back-flowSilverbrook, EP actuator does ink jet, there is no is eliminated onactuation 0771 658 A2 and not result in expansion or movement of anrelated patent ink back-flow actuator which may cause applications inkback-flow through the Valve-jet inlet. Tone-jet IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17IJ18, IJ19, IJ21Nozzle Clearing Method

Nozzle Clearing method Description Advantages Disadvantages ExamplesNormal nozzle All of the nozzles are No added complexity May not besufficient to Most ink jet firing fired periodically, before on theprint head displace dried ink systems the ink has a chance to IJ01–IJ07,dry. When not in use the IJ09–IJ12 nozzles are sealed (capped) IJ14,IJ16, against air. IJ20, IJ22 The nozzle firing is IJ23–IJ34, usuallyperformed during a IJ36–IJ45 special clearing cycle, after first movingthe print head to a cleaning station. Extra power In systems which heatthe Can be highly Requires higher drive voltage Silverbrook, EP to inkheater ink, but do not boil it effective if the for clearing 0771 658 A2and under normal situations, heater is adjacent to May require largerdrive related patent nozzle clearing can be the nozzle transistorsapplications achieved by over-powering the heater and boiling ink at thenozzle. Rapid The actuator is fired in Does not require Effectivenessdepends May be used succession of rapid succession. In some extra drivecircuits substantially upon the with: actuator configurations, this mayon the print head configuration of the inkjet IJ01–IJ07, IJ09–IJ11pulses cause heat build-up at the Can be readily nozzle IJ14, IJ16,nozzle which boils the ink, controlled and IJ20, IJ22 clearing thenozzle. In initiated by digital IJ23–IJ25, IJ27–IJ34 other situations,it may logic IJ36–IJ45 cause sufficient vibrations to dislodge cloggednozzles. Extra power Where an actuator is not A simple solution Notsuitable where there is a May be used to ink normally driven to thewhere applicable hard limit to actuator with: pushing limit of itsmotion, nozzle movement IJ03, IJ09, actuator clearing may be assisted byIJ16, IJ20 providing an enhanced drive IJ23, IJ24, signal to theactuator. IJ25, IJ27 IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 IJ39, IJ40, IJ41, IJ42 IJ43,IJ44, IJ45 Acoustic An ultrasonic wave is A high nozzle Highimplementation cost if IJ08, IJ13, resonance applied to the ink chamber.clearing capability system does not already IJ15, IJ17 This wave is ofan can be achieved include an acoustic actuator IJ18, IJ19, IJ21appropriate amplitude and May be implemented at frequency to cause verylow cost in sufficient force at the systems which already nozzle toclear blockages. include acoustic This is easiest to achieve actuatorsif the ultrasonic wave is at a resonant frequency of the ink cavity.Nozzle A microfabricated plate is Can clear severely Accurate mechanicalalignment Silverbrook, EP clearing pushed against the nozzles. cloggednozzles is required 0771 658 A2 and plate The plate has a post forMoving parts are required related patent every nozzle. The array ofThere is risk of damage to applications posts the nozzles Accuratefabrication is required Ink pressure The pressure of the ink is May beeffective Requires pressure pump or May be used with pulse temporarilyincreased so where other methods other pressure actuator all IJ seriesthat ink streams from all cannot be used Expensive ink jets of thenozzles. This may be Wasteful of ink used in conjunction with actuatorenergizing. Print head A flexible ‘blade’ is wiped Effective for planarDifficult to use if print Many ink jet wiper across the print head printhead surfaces head surface is non-planar or systems surface. The bladeis Low cost very fragile usually fabricated from a Requires mechanicalparts flexible polymer, e.g. Blade can wear out in high rubber orsynthetic volume print systems elastomer. Separate ink A separate heateris Can be effective Fabrication complexity Can be used with boilingprovided at the nozzle where other nozzle many IJ series heater althoughthe normal drop e- clearing methods ink jets ection mechanism does notcannot be used require it. The heaters do Can be implemented at notrequire individual no additional cost in drive circuits, as many someinkjet nozzles can be cleared configurations simultaneously, and noimaging is required.Nozzle Plate Construction

Nozzle plate construction Description Advantages Disadvantages ExamplesElectroformed A nozzle plate is Fabrication High temperatures andHewlett Packard nickel separately fabricated from simplicity pressuresare required to Thermal Inkjet electroformed nickel, and bond nozzleplate bonded to the print head Minimum thickness constraints chip.Differential thermal expansion Laser ablated Individual nozzle holes areNo masks required Each hole must be Canon Bubblejet or drilled ablatedby an intense UV Can be quite fast individually formed 1988 Sercel etpolymer laser in a nozzle plate, Some control over Special equipmentrequired al., SPIE, Vol. which is typically a nozzle profile is Slowwhere there are many 998 Excimer Beam polymer such as polyimide possiblethousands of nozzles per Applications, or polysulphone Equipmentrequired is print head pp. 76–83 relatively low cost May produce thinburrs at 1993 Watanabe et exit holes al., USP 5,208,604 Silicon Aseparate nozzle plate is High accuracy is Two part construction K. Bean,IEEE micromachined micromachined from single attainable High costTransactions on crystal silicon, and bonded Requires precision alignmentElectron to the print head wafer. Nozzles may be clogged by Devices,Vol. adhesive ED-25, No. 10, 1978, pp 1185–1195 Xerox 1990 Hawkins etal., USP 4,899,181 Glass Fine glass capillaries are No expensive Verysmall nozzle sizes are 1970 Zoltan USP capillaries drawn from glasstubing. equipment required difficult to form 3,683,212 This method hasbeen used Simple to make single Not suited for mass for makingindividual nozzles production nozzles, but is difficult to use for bulkmanufacturing of print heads with thousands of nozzles. Monolithic, Thenozzle plate is High accuracy (<1 μm) Requires sacrificial layerSilverbrook, EP surface deposited as a layer using Monolithic under thenozzle plate to 0771 658 A2 and micromachined standard VLSI depositionLow cost form the nozzle chamber related patent using VLSI techniques.Nozzles are Existing processes Surface may be fragile to theapplications lithographic etched in the nozzle plate can be used touchIJ01, IJ02, processes using VLSI lithography and IJ04, IJ11 etching.IJ12, IJ17, IJ18, IJ20 IJ22, IJ24, IJ27, IJ28 IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32IJ33, IJ34, IJ36, IJ37 IJ38, IJ39, IJ40, IJ41 IJ42, IJ43, IJ44Monolithic, The nozzle plate is a High accuracy (<1 μm) Requires longetch times IJ03, IJ05, etched buried etch stop in the MonolithicRequires a support wafer IJ06, IJ07 through wafer. Nozzle chambers areLow cost IJ08, IJ09, substrate etched in the front of the Nodifferential IJ10, IJ13 wafer, and the wafer is expansion IJ14, IJ15,thinned from the back side. IJ16, IJ19 Nozzles are then etched in IJ21,IJ23, the etch stop layer. IJ25, IJ26 No nozzle Various methods havebeen No nozzles to become Difficult to control drop Ricoh 1995 platetried to eliminate the clogged position accurately Sekiya et al USPnozzles entirely, to Crosstalk problems 5,412,413 prevent nozzleclogging. 1993 Hadimioglu These include thermal et al EUP bubblemechanisms and 550, 192 acoustic lens mechanisms 1993 Elrod et al EUP572,220 Trough Each drop ejector has a Reduced manufacturing Drop firingdirection is IJ35 trough through which a complexity sensitive towicking. paddle moves. There is no Monolithic nozzle plate. Nozzle slitThe elimination of nozzle No nozzles to become Difficult to control drop1989 Saito et al instead of holes and replacement by a clogged positionaccurately USP 4,799,068 individual slit encompassing many Crosstalkproblems nozzles actuator positions reduces nozzle clogging, butincreases crosstalk due to ink surface wavesDrop Ejection Direction

Ejection direction Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples EdgeInk flow is along the Simple construction Nozzles limited to edge CanonBubblejet (‘edge surface of the chip, and No silicon etching Highresolution is difficult 1979 Endo et al shooter’) ink drops are ejectedfrom required Fast color printing requires GB patent the chip edge. Goodheat sinking via one print head per color 2,007,162 substrate Xeroxheater-in- Mechanically strong pit 1990 Hawkins Ease of chip handing etal USP 4,899,181 Tone-jet Surface Ink flow is along the No bulk siliconMaximum ink flow is severely Hewlett-Packard (‘roof surface of the chip,and etching required restricted TIJ 1982 Vaught shooter’) ink drops areejected from Silicon can make an et al USP the chip surface, normal toeffective heat sink 4,490,728 the plane of the chip. Mechanical strengthIJ02, IJ11, IJ12, IJ20 IJ22 Through chip, Ink flow is through the Highink flow Requires bulk silicon etching Silverbrook, EP forward chip, andink drops are Suitable for 0771 658 A2 and (‘up ejected from the frontpagewidth print related patent shooter’) surface of the chip. Highnozzle packing applications density therefore low IJ04, IJ17,manufacturing cost IJ18, IJ24 IJ27–IJ45 Through chip, Ink flow isthrough the High ink flow Requires wafer thinning IJ01, IJ03, reversechip, and ink drops are Suitable for Requires special handling IJ05,IJ06 (‘down ejected from the rear pagewidth print during manufactureIJ07, IJ08, shooter’) surface of the chip. High nozzle packing IJ09,IJ10 density therefore low IJ13, IJ14, manufacturing cost IJ15, IJ16IJ19, IJ21, IJ23, IJ25 IJ26 Through Ink flow is through the Suitable forPagewidth print heads require Epson Stylus actuator actuator, which isnot piezoelectric print several thousand connections Tektronix hotfabricated as part of the heads to drive circuits melt same substrate asthe drive Cannot be manufactured in piezoelectric transistors. standardCMOS fabs ink jets Complex assembly requiredInk Type

Ink type Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples Aqueous, dyeWater based ink which Environmentally Slow drying Most existingtypically contains: water, friendly Corrosive inkjets dye, surfactant,humectant, No odor Bleeds on paper All IJ series and biocide. Maystrikethrough ink jets Modern ink dyes have high Cockles paperSilverbrook, EP water-fastness, light 0771 658 A2 and fastness relatedpatent applications Aqueous, Water based ink which Environmentally Slowdrying IJ02, IJ04, pigment typically contains: water, friendly CorrosiveIJ21, IJ26 pigment, surfactant, No odor Pigment may clog nozzles IJ27,IJ30 humectant, and biocide. Reduced bleed Pigment may clog actuatorSilverbrook, EP Pigments have an advantage Reduced wicking mechanisms0771 658 A2 and in reduced bleed, wicking Reduced strikethrough Cocklespaper related patent and strikethrough. applications Piezoelectricink-jets Thermal ink jets (with significant restrictions) Methyl EthylMEK is a highly volatile Very fast drying Odorous All IJ series Ketone(MEK) solvent used for industrial Prints on various Flammable ink jetsprinting on difficult substrates such as surfaces such as aluminummetals and plastics cans. Alcohol Alcohol based inks can be Fast dryingSlight odor All IJ series (ethanol, 2- used where the printer mustOperates at sub- Flammable ink jets butanol, and operate at temperaturesfreezing temperatures others) below the freezing point of Reduced papercockle water. An example of this Low cost is in-camera consumerphotographic printing. Phase change The ink is solid at room No dryingtime-ink High viscosity Tektronix hot (hot melt) temperature, and ismelted instantly freezes on Printed ink typically has a melt in theprint head before the print medium ‘waxy’ feel piezoelectric jetting.Hot melt inks are Almost any print Printed pages may ‘block’ ink jetsusually wax based, with a medium can be used Ink temperature may beabove 1989 Nowak USP melting point around 80° C. No paper cockle thecurie point of permanent 4,820,346 After jetting the ink occurs magnetsAll IJ series freezes almost instantly No wicking occurs Ink heatersconsume power ink jets upon contacting the print No bleed occurs Longwarm-up time medium or a transfer No strikethrough roller. occurs OilOil based inks are High solubility High viscosity: this is a All IJseries extensively used in offset medium for some dyes significantlimitation for ink jets printing. They have Does not cockle paper use ininkjets, which usually advantages in improved Does not wick throughrequire a low viscosity. Some characteristics on paper paper short chainand multi- (especially no wicking or branched oils have a cockle). Oilsoluble dies sufficiently low viscosity. and pigments are required. Slowdrying Microemulsion A microemulsion is a Stops ink bleed Viscosityhigher than water All IJ series stable, self forming High dye solubilityCost is slightly higher than ink jets emulsion of oil, water, and Water,oil, and water based ink surfactant. The amphiphilic soluble Highsurfactant concentration characteristic drop size is dies can be usedrequired (around 5%) less than 100 nm, and is Can stabilize pigmentdetermined by the preferred suspensions curvature of the surfactant.Ink Jet Printing

A large number of new forms of ink jet printers have been developed tofacilitate alternative ink jet technologies for the image processing anddata distribution system. Various combinations of ink jet devices can beincluded in printer devices incorporated as part of the presentinvention. Australian Provisional Patent Applications relating to theseink jets which are specifically incorporated by cross reference. Theserial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications arealso provided for the sake of convenience.

Australian U.S. Patent/Patent Provisional Filing Application and NumberDate Title Filing Date PO8066 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and6,227,652 Apparatus (IJ01) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8072 15-Jul-97 ImageCreation Method and 6,213,588 Apparatus (IJ02) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO804015-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and 6,213,589 Apparatus (IJ03) (Jul. 10,1998) PO8071 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and 6,231,163 Apparatus(IJ04) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8047 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and6,247,795 Apparatus (IJ05) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8035 15-Jul-97 ImageCreation Method and 6,394,581 Apparatus (IJ06) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO804415-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and 6,244,691 Apparatus (IJ07) (Jul. 10,1998) PO8063 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and 6,257,704 Apparatus(IJ08) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8057 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and6,416,168 Apparatus (IJ09) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8056 15-Jul-97 ImageCreation Method and 6,220,694 Apparatus (IJ10) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO806915-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and 6,257,705 Apparatus (IJ11) (Jul. 10,1998) PO8049 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and 6,247,794 Apparatus(IJ12) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8036 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and6,234,610 Apparatus (IJ13) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8048 15-Jul-97 ImageCreation Method and 6,247,793 Apparatus (IJ14) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO807015-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and 6,264,306 Apparatus (IJ15) (Jul. 10,1998) PO8067 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and 6,241,342 Apparatus(IJ16) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8001 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and6,247,792 Apparatus (IJ17) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8038 15-Jul-97 ImageCreation Method and 6,264,307 Apparatus (IJ18) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO803315-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and 6,254,220 Apparatus (IJ19) (Jul. 10,1998) PO8002 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and 6,234,611 Apparatus(IJ20) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8068 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and6,302,528 Apparatus (IJ21) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8062 15-Jul-97 ImageCreation Method and 6,283,582 Apparatus (IJ22) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO803415-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and 6,239,821 Apparatus (IJ23) (Jul. 10,1998) PO8039 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and 6,338,547 Apparatus(IJ24) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8041 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and6,247,796 Apparatus (IJ25) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8004 15-Jul-97 ImageCreation Method and 09/113,122 Apparatus (IJ26) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO803715-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and 6,390,603 Apparatus (IJ27) (Jul. 10,1998) PO8043 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and 6,362,843 Apparatus(IJ28) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8042 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and6,293,653 Apparatus (IJ29) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8064 15-Jul-97 ImageCreation Method and 6,312,107 Apparatus (IJ30) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO938923-Sep-97 Image Creation Method and 6,227,653 Apparatus (IJ31) (Jul. 10,1998) PO9391 23-Sep-97 Image Creation Method and 6,234,609 Apparatus(IJ32) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0888 12-Dec-97 Image Creation Method and6,238,040 Apparatus (IJ33) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0891 12-Dec-97 ImageCreation Method and 6,188,415 Apparatus (IJ34) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP089012-Dec-97 Image Creation Method and 6,227,654 Apparatus (IJ35) (Jul. 10,1998) PP0873 12-Dec-97 Image Creation Method and 6,209,989 Apparatus(IJ36) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0993 12-Dec-97 Image Creation Method and6,247,791 Apparatus (IJ37) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0890 12-Dec-97 ImageCreation Method and 6,336,710 Apparatus (IJ38) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP139819-Jan-98 An Image Creation Method 6,217,153 and Apparatus (IJ39) (Jul.10, 1998) PP2592 25-Mar-98 An Image Creation Method 6,416,167 andApparatus (IJ40) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP2593 25-Mar-98 Image Creation Methodand 6,243,113 Apparatus (IJ41) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP3991 9-Jun-98 ImageCreation Method and 6,283,581 Apparatus (IJ42) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP39879-Jun-98 Image Creation Method and 6,247,790 Apparatus (IJ43) (Jul. 10,1998) PP3985 9-Jun-98 Image Creation Method and 6,260,953 Apparatus(IJ44) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP3983 9-Jun-98 Image Creation Method and6,267,469 Apparatus (IJ45) (Jul. 10, 1998)Ink Jet Manufacturing

Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductorfabrication techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jetprinters. Suitable manufacturing techniques are described in thefollowing Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated hereby cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding USpatent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

Australian U.S. Patent/Patent Provisional Application and Number FilingDate Title Filing Date PO7935 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of anImage 6,224,780 Creation Apparatus (IJM01) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO793615-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,235,212 CreationApparatus (IJM02) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7937 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,280,643 Creation Apparatus (IJM03) (Jul. 10,1998) PO8061 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,284,147Creation Apparatus (IJM04) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8054 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,214,244 Creation Apparatus (IJM05) (Jul. 10,1998) PO8065 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,071,750Creation Apparatus (IJM06) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8055 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,267,905 Creation Apparatus (IJM07) (Jul. 10,1998) PO8053 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,251,298Creation Apparatus (IJM08) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8078 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,258,285 Creation Apparatus (IJM09) (Jul. 10,1998) PO7933 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,225,138Creation Apparatus (IJM10) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7950 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,241,904 Creation Apparatus (IJM11) (Jul. 10,1998) PO7949 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,299,786Creation Apparatus (IJM12) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8060 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 09/113,124 Creation Apparatus (IJM13) (Jul. 10,1998) PO8059 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,231,773Creation Apparatus (IJM14) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8073 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,190,931 Creation Apparatus (IJM15) (Jul. 10,1998) PO8076 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,248,249Creation Apparatus (IJM16) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8075 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,290,862 Creation Apparatus (IJM17) (Jul. 10,1998) PO8079 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,241,906Creation Apparatus (IJM18) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8050 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 09/113,116 Creation Apparatus (IJM19) (Jul. 10,1998) PO8052 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,241,905Creation Apparatus (IJM20) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7948 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,451,216 Creation Apparatus (IJM21) (Jul. 10,1998) PO7951 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,231,772Creation Apparatus (IJM22) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8074 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,274,056 Creation Apparatus (IJM23) (Jul. 10,1998) PO7941 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,290,861Creation Apparatus (IJM24) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8077 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,248,248 Creation Apparatus (IJM25) (Jul. 10,1998) PO8058 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,306,671Creation Apparatus (IJM26) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8051 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,331,258 Creation Apparatus (IJM27) (Jul. 10,1998) PO8045 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,110,754Creation Apparatus (IJM28) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7952 15-Jul-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,294,101 Creation Apparatus (IJM29) (Jul. 10,1998) PO8046 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,416,679Creation Apparatus (IJM30) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8503 11-Aug-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,264,849 Creation Apparatus (IJM30a) (Jul. 10,1998) PO9390 23-Sep-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,254,793Creation Apparatus (IJM31) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO9392 23-Sep-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,235,211 Creation Apparatus (IJM32) (Jul. 10,1998) PP0889 12-Dec-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,235,211Creation Apparatus (IJM35) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0887 12-Dec-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,264,850 Creation Apparatus (IJM36) (Jul. 10,1998) PP0882 12-Dec-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,258,284Creation Apparatus (IJM37) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0874 12-Dec-97 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,258,284 Creation Apparatus (IJM38) (Jul. 10,1998) PP1396 19-Jan-98 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,228,668Creation Apparatus (IJM39) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP2591 25-Mar-98 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,180,427 Creation Apparatus (IJM41) (Jul. 10,1998) PP3989 9-Jun-98 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,171,875Creation Apparatus (IJM40) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP3990 9-Jun-98 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,267,904 Creation Apparatus (IJM42) (Jul. 10,1998) PP3986 9-Jun-98 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,245,247Creation Apparatus (IJM43) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP3984 9-Jun-98 A Method ofManufacture of an Image 6,245,247 Creation Apparatus (IJM44) (Jul. 10,1998) PP3982 9-Jun-98 A Method of Manufacture of an Image 6,231,148Creation Apparatus (IJM45) (Jul. 10, 1998)Fluid Supply

Further, the present application may utilize an ink delivery system tothe ink jet head. Delivery systems relating to the supply of ink to aseries of ink jet nozzles are described in the following Australianprovisional patent specifications, the disclosure of which are herebyincorporated by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respectivecorresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake ofconvenience.

U.S. Patent/ Patent Australian Application Provisional Filing and FilingNumber Date Title Date PO8003 15-Jul-97 Supply Method and Apparatus6,350,023 (F1) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8005 15-Jul-97 Supply Method andApparatus 6,318,849 (F2) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO9404 23-Sep-97 A Device andMethod (F3) 09/113,101 (Jul. 10, 1998)MEMS Technology

Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductormicroelectromechanical techniques in the construction of large arrays ofink jet printers. Suitable microelectromechanical techniques aredescribed in the following Australian provisional patent specificationsincorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respectivecorresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake ofconvenience.

Australian U.S. Patent/Patent Provisional Filing Application and FilingNumber Date Title Date PO7943 15-Jul-97 A device (MEMS01) PO800615-Jul-97 A device (MEMS02) 6,087,638 (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8007 15-Jul-97 Adevice (MEMS03) 09/113,093 (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8008 15-Jul-97 A device(MEMS04) 6,340,222 (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8010 15-Jul-97 A device (MEMS05)6,041,600 (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8011 15-Jul-97 A device (MEMS06) 6,299,300(Jul. 10, 1998) PO7947 15-Jul-97 A device (MEMS07) 6,067,797 (Jul. 10,1998) PO7945 15-Jul-97 A device (MEMS08) 09/113,081 (Jul. 10, 1998)PO7944 15-Jul-97 A device (MEMS09) 6,286,935 (Jul. 10, 1998) PO794615-Jul-97 A device (MEMS10) 6,044,646 (Jul. 10, 1998) PO9393 23-Sep-97 ADevice and Method 09/113,065 (MEMS11) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0875 12-Dec-97 ADevice (MEMS12) 09/113,078 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0894 12-Dec-97 A Device andMethod 09/113,075 (MEMS13) (Jul. 10, 1998)IR Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of adisposable camera system such as those described in the followingAustralian provisional patent specifications incorporated here bycross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding USpatent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

U.S. Patent/ Patent Australian Application Provisional Filing and FilingNumber Date Title Date PP0895 12-Dec-97 An Image Creation Method6,231,148 and Apparatus (IR01) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0870 12-Dec-97 A Deviceand Method (IR02) 09/113,106 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0869 12-Dec-97 A Deviceand Method (IR04) 6,293,658 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0887 12-Dec-97 ImageCreation Method and 09/113,104 Apparatus (IR05) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP088512-Dec-97 An Image Production System 6,238,033 (IR06) (Jul. 10, 1998)PP0884 12-Dec-97 Image Creation Method and 6,312,070 Apparatus (IR10)(Jul. 10, 1998) PP0886 12-Dec-97 Image Creation Method and 6,238,111Apparatus (IR12) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0871 12-Dec-97 A Device and Method(IR13) 09/113,086 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0876 12-Dec-97 An Image ProcessingMethod 09/113,094 and Apparatus (IR14) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0877 12-Dec-97A Device and Method (IR16) 6,378,970 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0878 12-Dec-97 ADevice and Method (IR17) 6,196,739 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0879 12-Dec-97 ADevice and Method (IR18) 09/112,774 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0883 12-Dec-97 ADevice and Method (IR19) 6,270,182 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0880 12-Dec-97 ADevice and Method (IR20) 6,152,619 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0881 12-Dec-97 ADevice and Method (IR21) 09/113,092 (Jul. 10, 1998)DotCard Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of a datadistribution system such as that described in the following Australianprovisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference.The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applicationsare also provided for the sake of convenience.

Australian U.S. Patent/Patent Provisional Filing Application and NumberDate Title Filing Date PP2370 16-Mar-98 Data Processing Method09/112,781 and Apparatus (Dot01) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP2371 16-Mar-98 DataProcessing Method 09/113,052 and Apparatus (Dot02) (Jul. 10, 1998)Artcam Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of cameraand data processing techniques such as an Artcam type device asdescribed in the following Australian provisional patent specificationsincorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respectivecorresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake ofconvenience.

Australian U.S. Patent/Patent Provisional Filing Application and NumberDate Title Filing Date PO7991 15-Jul-97 Image Processing Method09/113,060 and Apparatus (ART01) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7988 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method 6,476,863 and Apparatus (ART02) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO799315-Jul-97 Image Processing Method 09/113,073 and Apparatus (ART03) (Jul.10, 1998) PO9395 23-Sep-97 Data Processing Method 6,322,181 andApparatus (ART04) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8017 15-Jul-97 Image ProcessingMethod 09/112,747 and Apparatus (ART06) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8014 15-Jul-97Media Device (ART07) 6,227,648 (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8025 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method 09/112,750 and Apparatus (ART08) (Jul. 10, 1998)PO8032 15-Jul-97 Image Processing Method 09/112,746 and Apparatus(ART09) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7999 15-Jul-97 Image Processing Method09/112,743 and Apparatus (ART10) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7998 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method 09/112,742 and Apparatus (ART11) (Jul. 10, 1998)PO8031 15-Jul-97 Image Processing Method 09/112,741 and Apparatus(ART12) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8030 15-Jul-97 Media Device (ART13) 6,196,541(Jul. 10, 1998) PO7997 15-Jul-97 Media Device (ART15) 6,195,150 (Jul.10, 1998) PO7979 15-Jul-97 Media Device (ART16) 6,362,868 (Jul. 10,1998) PO8015 15-Jul-97 Media Device (ART17) 09/112,738 (Jul. 10, 1998)PO7978 15-Jul-97 Media Device (ART18) 09/113,067 (Jul. 10, 1998) PO798215-Jul-97 Data Processing Method 6,431,669 and Apparatus (ART19) (Jul.10, 1998) PO7989 15-Jul-97 Data Processing Method 6,362,869 andApparatus (ART20) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8019 15-Jul-97 Media ProcessingMethod 6,472,052 and Apparatus (ART21) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7980 15-Jul-97Image Processing Method 6,356,715 and Apparatus (ART22) (Jul. 10, 1998)PO8018 15-Jul-97 Image Processing Method 09/112,777 and Apparatus(ART24) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7938 15-Jul-97 Image Processing Method09/113,224 and Apparatus (ART25) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8016 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method 6,366,693 and Apparatus (ART26) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO802415-Jul-97 Image Processing Method 6,329,990 and Apparatus (ART27) (Jul.10, 1998) PO7940 15-Jul-97 Data Processing Method 09/113,072 andApparatus (ART28) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7939 15-Jul-97 Data ProcessingMethod 09/112,785 and Apparatus (ART29) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8501 11-Aug-97Image Processing Method 6,137,500 and Apparatus (ART30) (Jul. 10, 1998)PO8500 11-Aug-97 Image Processing Method 09/112,796 and Apparatus(ART31) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7987 15-Jul-97 Data Processing Method09/113,071 and Apparatus (ART32) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8022 15-Jul-97 ImageProcessing Method 6,398,328 and Apparatus (ART33) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO849711-Aug-97 Image Processing Method 09/113,090 and Apparatus (ART34) (Jul.10, 1998) PO8020 15-Jul-97 Data Processing Method 6,431,704 andApparatus (ART38) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8023 15-Jul-97 Data ProcessingMethod 09/113,222 and Apparatus (ART39) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8504 11-Aug-97Image Processing Method 09/112,786 and Apparatus (ART42) (Jul. 10, 1998)PO8000 15-Jul-97 Data Processing Method 6,415,054 and Apparatus (ART43)(Jul. 10, 1998) PO7977 15-Jul-97 Data Processing Method 09/112,782 andApparatus (ART44) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7934 15-Jul-97 Data ProcessingMethod 09/113,056 and Apparatus (ART45) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7990 15-Jul-97Data Processing Method 09/113,059 and Apparatus (ART46) (Jul. 10, 1998)PO8499 11-Aug-97 Image Processing Method 6,486,886 and Apparatus (ART47)(Jul. 10, 1998) PO8502 11-Aug-97 Image Processing Method 6,381,361 andApparatus (ART48) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7981 15-Jul-97 Data ProcessingMethod 6,317,192 and Apparatus (ART50) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7986 15-Jul-97Data Processing Method 09/113,057 and Apparatus (ART51) (Jul. 10, 1998)PO7983 15-Jul-97 Data Processing Method 09/113,054 and Apparatus (ART52)(Jul. 10, 1998) PO8026 15-Jul-97 Image Processing Method 09/112,752 andApparatus (ART53) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8027 15-Jul-97 Image ProcessingMethod 09/112,759 and Apparatus (ART54) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8028 15-Jul-97Image Processing Method 09/112,757 and Apparatus (ART56) (Jul. 10, 1998)PO9394 23-Sep-97 Image Processing Method 6,357,135 and Apparatus (ART57)(Jul. 10, 1998) PO9396 23-Sep-97 Data Processing Method 09/113,107 andApparatus (ART58) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO9397 23-Sep-97 Data ProcessingMethod 6,271,931 and Apparatus (ART59) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO9398 23-Sep-97Data Processing Method 6,353,772 and Apparatus (ART60) (Jul. 10, 1998)PO9399 23-Sep-97 Data Processing Method 6,106,147 and Apparatus (ART61)(Jul. 10, 1998) PO9400 23-Sep-97 Data Processing Method 09/112,790 andApparatus (ART62) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO9401 23-Sep-97 Data ProcessingMethod 6,304,291 and Apparatus (ART63) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO9402 23-Sep-97Data Processing Method 09/112,788 and Apparatus (ART64) (Jul. 10, 1998)PO9403 23-Sep-97 Data Processing Method 6,305,770 and Apparatus (ART65)(Jul. 10, 1998) PO9405 23-Sep-97 Data Processing Method 6,289,262 andApparatus (ART66) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0959 16-Dec-97 A Data ProcessingMethod 6,315,200 and Apparatus (ART68) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP1397 19-Jan-98A Media Device (ART69) 6,217,165 (Jul. 10, 1998)

1. A camera comprising: (a) an image sensor adapted to capture a sensedimage; (b) an eye position detector adapted to detect a position of auser's eye when the image sensor is capturing the sensed image and togenerate eye position information indicative of that position; and (c) aprocessor adapted to: (i) receive the sensed image from the image sensorand the eye position information from the eye position detector; (ii)determine, with reference to the eye position information, an area ofinterest within the sensed image; (iii) process the sensed image byapplying an image manipulation effect to at least part of the area ofinterest to produce a processed image; and (d) a manipulationinstruction storage device reader adapted to read image manipulationinstructions stored on a manipulation instruction storage device,wherein the manipulation instruction storage device comprises a cardhaving a surface and at least one image manipulation instruction printedon the surface in encoded form.
 2. The camera of claim 1 wherein theimage manipulation effect is selected from the group comprising: (a)superimposing a further image over at least part of the area ofinterest; and (b) distorting at least part of the area of interest. 3.The camera of claim 2 wherein superimposing a further image over atleast part of the area of interest comprises applying a speech bubbleover at least part of the area of interest.
 4. The camera of claim 2wherein distorting at least part of the area of interest comprisesmorphing at least part of the area of interest.
 5. The camera of claim 2wherein distorting at least part of the area of interest comprisesapplying an artistic paint brushing effect to at least part of the areaof interest.
 6. The camera of claim 1 further comprising a memoryadapted to store at least one of: (a) the sensed image; (b) the eyeposition information; and (c) the processed image.
 7. The camera ofclaim 1 further comprising a display device adapted to display theprocessed image.
 8. The camera of claim 1 further comprising a printerdevice housed within the camera which is adapted to print a copy of theprocessed image.
 9. The camera of claim 8 wherein the printer comprisesa page-width printhead.
 10. The camera of claim 8 wherein the printer isadapted to print the processed image at print resolutions ranging from600 dots per inch (dpi) to 2000 dpi.
 11. The camera of claim 10 whereinthe printer is adapted to print the processed image at print resolutionsranging from 1400 dpi to 1700 dpi.
 12. The camera of claim 11 whereinthe printer is adapted to print the processed image at a printresolution of 1600 dpi.
 13. The camera of claim 8 wherein the printer isadapted to print the processed image in less than 10 seconds.
 14. Thecamera of claim 13 wherein the printer is adapted to print the processedimage in less than 3 seconds.
 15. The camera of claim 1 wherein theprocessor is adapted to process the sensed image by applying an imagemanipulation effect, corresponding to image manipulation instructionsreceived from the manipulation instruction storage device reader, to atleast part of the area of interest.
 16. The camera of claim 1 whereinthe card comprises an “Artcard” as described herein.